Visit This Incredible Local Museum Hosted In A Former Catholic Church

A former St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in downtown Ojai is now a museum highlighting the architectural, cultural, and artistic history of the town situated in a small valley, east of Santa Barbara and north of Ventura. The quaint museum is open for public viewing between the hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays through Fridays. There’s a small entry fee for both children and adults.

Ojai Valley Museum features a walk-in diorama of the Sespe Wilderness and a Chumash interpretive garden behind the building that turns the spotlight on native plants, including Wild Cucumber, Summer Lupine, and Desert Candle.

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A larger space of the museum hosts about four temporary exhibits each year, covering the art, culture, and history of the valley. On Saturdays, you can join the historic walking tour of downtown Ojai. It takes off at the museum at 10:30 in the morning and lasts approximately 90 minutes.

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The historical walking tour has a small admission fee, which includes entry into the museum should you decide to explore the various exhibits later. There are also Town Talks on the third Sunday of every month, between 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

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During your visit to Ojai Valley Museum, make sure to explore the gift shop. You can purchase locally-made cards, exhibition books, gift items, and a whole slew of souvenir items representing the town of Ojai.

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There’s also a Visitor Center southwest of the building offering free information, brochures, magazines, and maps to help you make the most of your trip. It’s open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

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Ojai Valley Museum is the perfect place to expand your knowledge about the town through tours, contemporary local artwork, and town history exhibits.

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For information on current and future exhibitions, programs and events, visit the Ojai Valley Museum website. Will you visit the Ojai Valley Museum of History and Art? What exhibits are you looking forward to seeing? Let us know in the comment section.